Irish Terrier

The Irish Terrier was bred originally to be a guard dog and hunter. It is one of many terrier breeds, and it is believed to have descended from black and tan terrier-types of the British Isles. The breed is an excellent vermin killer; it was brought to the United States in the late 19th century.

The breed is compact and rectangular. It is not a heavy dog, yet it appears powerful. The Irish Terrier is generally around 19 inches tall and weighs 25 to 27 pounds. The Irish Terrier has a harsh, wiry coat which is golden red, red wheaten or wheaten, often with a small white patch on its chest. The coat lies flat against the skin and is medium length. The under coat is also red. The breed can have furnishings on its head and legs, as well as a small beard on its chin. The tail of the Irish Terrier is generally docked; however, if it is not it stands very high. It has small, folded ears, and dark brown, expressive eyes.

The Irish Terrier is very active, but is also able to relax. It is generally very tolerant with people, including children. It can be challenging to train and is not a good pet for a first time owner. The dog must be taught that its owner is dominant in order for it to gain respect. The breed responds best to firm training from an authoritative person. The breed can also show dominance around other dogs and may tend to start fights. The Irish Terrier loves a challenge, and can make an excellent show dog.

The breed is fairly low maintenance, easy to groom, and it only needs to be stripped once or twice a year.

The breed is generally healthy and can live from 13 to 14 years and is generally healthy. It can occasionally have hip dysplasia. Hyperkeratosis affected the breed during the 1960s and 1970s but is not nearly as common today because the affected bloodlines weren’t used in breeding.